Michigan’s fifth largest city, Lansing, lies within Ingham and Eaton Counties. The Outstate Region-Lansing Area state probation and parole system supervises Lansing’s probation and parole officers.
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In April 2013, Lansing’s probation and parole department made news when a 61-year-old woman was sentenced to probation for a shooting. Her sentence was two years of probation and over $5000 in fines after shooting at a snow plow driver she hired to clear snow from her property. After being found competent to stand trial, she was sentenced to probation by a judge in exchange for a plea of guilty.
Education Required to Become a Probation and Parole Officer in Lansing
In order to become a probation and parole officer in Lansing, applicants need a bachelor’s degree in a related field. These include:
- Sociology
- School social work
- Correctional administration
- Psychology
- Criminal justice
- Criminology
- Social work,/social work administration
- Education psychology
- Human services
- Family relations and child development
Newly hired probation and parole officers in Lansing are not required to have experience in the field.
Application Process to Become a Probation and Parole Officer in Lansing
Lansing, Michigan probation and parole officer jobs are posted at the State of Michigan Job Opportunities website, where interested parties are instructed to apply online. All college transcripts must be official and submitted online as well. A driver’s license, vehicle and telephone in the applicant’s name are also required before applying to become a probation and parole officer in Lansing. An applicant with felony convictions or felony charges pending is not permitted to become a probation and parole officer in Lansing.
Training for Probation and Parole Officers in Lansing
It is possible to become a probation and parole officer in Lansing through training only, as this is considered to be an entry-level position. Training is long and is segmented into thirds. The first third will occur in the first month of a new probation and parole officer job in Lansing, and is general orientation required of all state of Michigan employees. The second third lasts 360 hours and is spent in the field office to which a new probation and parole officer has been assigned, in on the job training. The last third of new Lansing probation and parole officer training is classes, online and in the classroom, in subjects substance abuse, interviewing skills, electronic monitoring systems, community residential programs, interstate compacts, supervising offenders, probation process, probation violations, pre-parole process, parole process, parole violations, pre-sentence investigations, sentencing, supervision standards, rule violations and resources in the community.
Lansing probation and parole officers must complete in-service classes each year in order to keep their jobs.